First Batch Of 17 Women Cadets Graduate From NDA

New Delhi: In a historical feat, the first-ever batch of 17 female cadets passed out from prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) after completing their course. They were among the 336 cadets who crossed the ‘Antim Pag’, the final step, at the Lt Arun Khetrapal Parade Ground of the tri-service training academy, widely known as the “cradle of leadership”.

The women cadets joined the NDA in 2022, after a Supreme Court interim order allowed women to seek admission to the academy. The ceremony at Khadakwasla near Pune marked the culmination of 148th Course-Spring Term course. The reviewing officer was Manipur Governor General V.K. Singh (retd), a former Chief of Army Staff.

"Today is a uniquely significant day in the history of the academy, the first batch of female cadets pass out from NDA. This marks a historic milestone in our collective journey towards greatest inclusivity and empowerment. These young women are a symbol of 'Nari Shakti', embodying not just women's development but women-led development," said Gen. Singh (retd). “I envision a future, not far from now, that one of these young women may rise to the highest of roles of the service they go to.”

A total of 1,341 cadets, including 336 from the passing out course, participated in the passing out parade, which marked the successful completion of rigorous military and academic training by the cadets, culminating in a splendid display of precision, discipline and military bearing.

"I was actually preparing for JEE Mains and then NDA came as a blessing. I was told by one of my friends that NDA is open for women as well. Then I thought of giving it a try. I just want to say that don't be afraid of anything. You can do whatever you want, just believe in yourself and go for it," said Divisional Cadet Captain Harsimran Kaur, whose parents were beaming with joy and pride at their daughter's feat. “Every moment, every difficulty we went through, each emotion in all these three years we spent at the academy is worth it,” PTI quoted her as saying.

The event concluded with a grand flypast featuring flag-trooping Chetak helicopters, Super Dimona motorised gliders, and the majestic Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft, symbolising the culmination of training and the cadets’ readiness to embark on the next phase of their military journey.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions as the parade moved towards the 'Antim Pag' as all the memories from the past three years got vivid, said Battalion Cadet Captain Shriti Daksh, adding that she was now ready to make her mark at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.

Shital, another cadet who was flanked by her proud parents, said, “It is a great feeling. There are more emotions and less words. As we approached the Antim Pag, the feeling was that yes we have done it.” The NDA had changed her “180 degrees” and had made her mentally and physically strong, said Shital. Her father Ashok Mahalen said all the 17 female cadets are “not just our daughters but the daughters of the entire nation”.

Cadet Shristi Singh, while thanking her instructors and Squadron Commander of India Squadron, remarked that the legendary saying associated with the academy of “jitna ragda, utna tagda” (the more gruelling the training, the stronger the cadet) is absolutely true. Singh, who is the first female cadet to pass out from India Squadron, aspires to join the Indian Naval Academy.

Gen. Singh (retired), speaking with the media later, said that when the girls came to the academy, there was a system in place to integrate them, and they were truly integrated over these three years. “I am sure the academy will be more successful in bringing more integration in the future,” the retired general said.

Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Commandant, NDA, said when girls first came to the academy, they were staying separately. “Today they are integrated completely with squadrons and battalions. They are running together, they are playing together, they are training together. Each and every activity at the academy is gender-neutral,” he said. “It took us time but now it is in progress.”

He said before taking the step of integrating the female cadets into the squadrons and assessing how their living conditions would be, he personally led a team to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala and Officers Training Academy, Chennai, where female cadets have been in training for some years. “We drew inspiration from them, studied their models and adapted as to how it can be implemented here at the academy,” the Vice Admiral said.

The parade was conducted by Adjutant Lt Col Praveen Kumar Tiwari, astride his charger 'Reliant Robin'. Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi of 'G' Squadron commanded the parade. The reviewing officer presented President's Gold Medal to Battalion Cadet Adjutant Prince Raj, President's Silver Medal to Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Singh Negi and President's Bronze Medal to Battalion Cadet Captain Tejas Bhatt.

The prestigious Chiefs of Staff Banner was awarded to Golf Squadron for overall excellence, a release said.